Reading is now home to England’s largest donor centre, and the first in the country where people can give blood, plasma and platelets in one place.
The new centre at Reading Bridge House covers around 11,000 sq ft. It has 16 plasma chairs, three blood donation chairs, three platelet chairs and three more chairs that can be used for blood collection when demand is high.
Plasma donations began on 12 October and whole blood collections followed on 19 October. Platelet donations are expected to start before the end of the year.
The centre is designed to make donating easier for people in Reading and nearby areas, while helping the NHS build more secure supplies. More than 5,000 blood donations are needed across England every day for emergencies, childbirth and patients receiving regular treatment.
Supporting medicines as well as transfusions
Plasma is used to make medicines including immunoglobulins, which treat more than 50 conditions, and albumin for surgery, trauma care and liver disease. Collecting more plasma in the UK could also reduce reliance on imported supplies.
Reading’s donation teams have already collected 10,992 plasma donations and 22,851 blood donations over the past 12 months. The mobile blood donation service will continue to run sessions in surrounding areas.
Why it matters for Britain
The centre supports hospitals across England with blood products and plasma-derived medicines, while giving local donors more options and flexible appointments. Its plasma collections may also help strengthen the UK’s domestic supply of essential treatments.
